Thin-leaved wild-pine, Southern needleleaf
Tillandsia setacea
Bromeliaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also accent epiphtye.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

A relatively common epiphyte in hammocks and swamps.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Epiphytic herb.
Height:
6-12 inches in height. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
Slow.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north to Volusia, Lake and Hernando counties; disjunct in southeastern Georgia; West Indies, Mexico and Central America. In the Monroe County Keys, known only from North Key Largo and nearby islands.
Habitats:
Moist forests and swamps.
Soils:
Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows on nutrient poor substrate.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist substrate and high humidity and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Light shade.
Flower Color:
Lavender.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season:
Summer.
Fruit:
Green to brown capsule with hairy, wind dispersed seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed and division.
Comments:


George D. Gann
James Johnson, 2014
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
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James Johnson, 2014
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
Joe Montes de Oca via iNaturalist.
Jay Horn via iNaturalist.